Optical device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for detecting objects. To this end, temporally variable reference light beams and object light beams are generated. The beams are superimposed at a light receiver and detected beam-by-beam, and the penetration of the object by selected beams is determined in response to the temporal variability of the superimposed beams.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device in accordance with the generic terms of the independent claims. Thus the present invention is concerned with the detection of three-dimensional objects, in particular with the determination of the spatial depth of an expanded three-dimensional object.

[0002] It is frequently desirable to scan a given object three-dimensionally. For example, this is the case when a complicated production part should be inspected to determine whether it has been created accurate to dimension or when a given object is to be measured precisely.

[0003] As a rule it is possible to achieve a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object by means of projecting an object image to a sensor surface or the like. The measurement into a third dimension, namely the measurement of a spatial depth, on the other hand, as a rule causes greater problems. For example, it has been proposed to send short light impulses out as with a sonic altimeter and to measure the time until reception of the backscattered or reflected impulses. However, measurement with light is very difficult here due to the extremely low run times, in additional spatial depth of room depth information can only be gained from spatially expanded objects with great expenditure.

[0004] There are also interferometric methods that have been known for a long time, in which a light beam is split up into a reference light beam and an object light beam. The object light beam is irradiated onto an object and received back from it. The reference and object light beams are then superimposed at a light receiver and then, provided there is sufficient coherence of both beams, the distance of the object is inferred from the phase location. This method allows highly precise measurements; however the depth measurement causes difficulties with expanded objects at different places.

[0005] It is further well-known to perform distance measurements using frequency-shifted feedback lasers (FSF laser). An example of this can be found in the essay by K. NAKAMURA, T. MIYAHARA M. YOSHIDA, T. HARA and H. ITO “A new technique of optical ranging by a frequency-shifted feedback laser” IEEEE Photonics Technology Letters, volume 10, 1998, pages 1772 pp. The principle of FSF lasers and the emission obtained from them is described in detail in the essay “Observation of a highly phase-correlated chirped frequency comb output from a frequency-shifted feedback laser” by K. NAKAMURA, T. MIYAHARA and H. ITO, Applied Physics Letters, Volume 72, No. 21, pages 2631 pp. as well as in the essay “Spectral Characteristics of an All Solid-State Frequency-Shifted Feedback Laser” by K. NAKAMURA, F. ABE, K. KASAHARA, T. HARA, M. SATO and H. ITO in IEEE-JOURNAL OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS, Volume 33, pages 103 pp.

[0006] The authors of the documents named here that have been included in their entirety for publication purposes proposed using an FSF laser, which has an acousto-optical modulator in its optical resonator, which is operated at about 80 MHz. The beam of the FSF laser is split at a beam splitter into a reference beam and a measuring beam. The measuring beam passes through a glass fiber serving as an object with the reference beam and is merged together again at a further beam splitter and irradiated on a single detector element, whose output is examined with a high-frequency spectral analyzer.

[0007] An object of the present invention consists in detecting expanded objects and making them measurable with regard to their spatial depth.

[0008] The independent claims specify how this objective can be achieved. Preferred embodiments are found in the subordinate claims.

[0009] A fundamental concept of the invention consists thus in the fact that temporally variable reference and object light beams are generated for object detection, the beams are superimposed at a light receiver and detected beam by beam and the penetration of the object by selected beams is determined in response to the temporal variability of the superimposed. beams.

[0010] In the process, it is first important that expanded light beams are generated and superimposed at a light receiver, but single beams within the beam be detected, to specify the penetration of the object at these selected beams. Thereby it becomes possible forthwith to perform locally resolved measurements on expanded objects through selection using temporally variable reference and object light beams.

[0011] In a preferred variant the light beams possess a comb-like frequency structure, whereby the comb is tuned, that is, all frequencies of the light beam are changed simultaneously. This can be achieved in particular with FSF lasers.

[0012] In a particularly preferred variant of the method successively differing modulator or tuning frequencies are used. The typical, periodically repeating temporal variability of reference and object light beams results in the fact that the allocation between penetration of the object and temporal variability is not unique. The use of several modulator frequencies makes it possible to resolve this non-uniqueness with a single frequency.

[0013] The generating of the reference and object light beams can occur in a laser resonator, in which an amplifying medium is arranged. The tuning occurs in the process preferably with a high-frequency excited acousto-optical modulator.

[0014] In a particularly preferred variant of the method the light beams are analyzed beam by beam, by providing a light-sensitive receiver from a number of detection elements, whereby the beams to be examined are determined by means of selection of individual beam elements.

[0015] In a particularly preferred variant the method provides that the detection element selection is variable. A modification can in the process particularly occur as a result of the fact that an image of the object is generated, to be precise with another or with the same light receiver, whereby then on this image dots with the penetration to be determined are selected. The detection elements allocated to these places can be examined with regard to the temporal variability of the superimposed beams that fall on them.

[0016] Protection is also desirable for a device that is suitable for practicing the method. In a particularly preferred variant of the device, an FSF laser, that is, a frequency-shifted feedback laser is provided as a beam generation medium, which in its resonator along with a light amplifier unit, that is a light amplifier medium, also includes a modulator. The modulator is preferably modulated with frequencies between 0.1 MHz and 500 MHz, whereby a modulation with radio frequencies around 100 MHz is particularly advantageous. The lower frequencies reduce the resolution attainable with the device, while very high frequencies greatly increase the demands on the measuring system.

[0017] The examination of the temporal variability of the superimposed reference and object light beams is performed in a preferred example by conducting signals from those detection elements that are to be scanned by means of a multiplexer to an evaluation unit.

[0018] In a preferred variant an imaging sensor can be provided, whereby on the one hand an image of the object is taken and on the other hand the penetration of specific pixels is detected. It is possible to separate the detection elements for object penetration determination from those elements of an imaging detector, in order in this way to make possible an optimization of the respective light receivers on the one hand for high spatial resolution and on the other hand for high sensitivity to the temporal variability. Furthermore, it is preferred when the imaging sensor and the object penetration measuring light receiver have differing spectral sensitivities, to be precise, in particular that the imaging sensor either is not or is only marginally sensitive to wavelengths and/or the frequency range of the light receiver. Thus the image recording will not be disturbed or almost not disturbed by the object penetration determination.

[0019] The invention is described in the following using the drawing. In this drawing, the figures show the following:

[0020]FIG. 1 an arrangement according to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 diagrams for illustration of the functional principle; namely

[0022]FIG. 2a frequencies of the frequency comb emitted by a laser resonator at three different times;

[0023]FIG. 2b the emission behavior during the time;

[0024]FIG. 2c the relationship between beat frequency and run time difference

[0025]FIG. 2d the relationship between beat frequency and object penetration for a given tuning frequency.

[0026] According to FIG. 1 an object penetration determination device 1 generally termed 1 includes a light beam generation medium 2 for generation of a temporally variable reference light beam 3 and an object light beam 4, a light receiver 5, on which object and reference light beams 3, 4 are superimposed, a selection unit 6 for selection of individual beams to be evaluated in the light beams 3, 4 superimposed on the light receiver 5, as well as an evaluation unit 7 for evaluation of object penetration.

[0027] The light beam generation medium 2 includes an optical resonator formed by means of highly reflecting mirrors 2 a 1, 2 a 2, in which an amplification medium 2 b and an acousto-optical modulator 2 c are arranged. The acousto-optical modulator 2 c contains high frequency energy from a frequency generator 2 d in a range between 0.1 MHz and 500 MHz, which results in a temporal variability of the radiated light, as is to be explained later.

[0028] A beam splitter 8 is provided in the output light beam 2 e of the light beam generation medium 2, which splits the output light beam 2 e into a partial beam directed at an object 10 and a reference light beam 3. In the beam path of the reference light beam 3 a back reflector is arranged at a fixed reference distance, which, by means of the beam splitter 8, reflects back the reference light beam 3 to the light receiver 5, while the partial beam directed at object 10 is reflected back by said back reflector and as object light beam 4 the beam splitter 8 is also continuously emitted to light receiver 5, to be precise, in such a way that object light beam 4 and reference light beam 3 are superimposed there.

[0029] The light receiver 5 is built as a CMOS-element field out of a matrix of MxN CMOS elements (i, j), which are individually addressable by means of their indices j_(I), i_(I). From each element (i, j) of the CMOS field of light receiver 5 a wire 5 a goes to the selection unit 6, which is designed as a multiplexer and switches signals either of only one or a small number of detection elements to a demodulation unit 7 a. The demodulation unit is designed for the purpose of analyzing the temporal variability of the output light beam 2 e in the superimposition of reference light beam 3 and object light beam 4 for the individual elements caused by acousto-optical modulation by means of the acousto-optical modulator 2 c and specifying a representative size for the beat of the same.

[0030] The output of the demodulation unit 7 a is fed to an entry of a central data processing unit 7 b, which also has input medium 7 c and output medium 7 d, and with which in particular the frequency f_(a) which is to be preselected at the frequency generator 2 d driving to the acousto-optical modulator 2 c can be determined as well as those matrix elements i, j of the CMOS array of the light receiver 5, whose signal is fed to the demodulation unit 7 a.

[0031] In the beam path between the beam splitter 8 and the light receiver 5 a partially transparent mirror 11 is further provided, with which light from object 10 can be reflected onto an imaging receiver 12 developed here for example as a CCD matrix. The output signal of all elements (i_(II), j_(II)) of the imaging receiver 12 is also fed to the central data processing unit. An allocation unit is provided there, which allocates those CMOS elements (i,j) to the CCD elements that detect the same object range.

[0032] For the purpose of explaining the function of the arrangement reference is first made to the FIGS. 2a through 2 d, which illustrate the emission behavior of the light beam generation medium as well as the signals resulting from the temporal variability of the light beams and their superimposition and their evaluation.

[0033]FIG. 2a shows the amplification profile of the amplification medium 2 b above first as an oscillated curve. A light amplification by light waves flowing into the amplification medium only takes place for those frequencies for which the amplification is greater than 1, that is, between the frequencies V_(A) and V_(B). With all other frequencies the light is weakened as usual. The optical resonator now has, similar to an oscillating string, preferred frequencies, so-called resonator modes. Those resonator modes for which the amplification of the amplified medium is greater than 1 are preferably emitted.

[0034] If the acousto-optical modulator is now excited, a grid of variably dense areas results by means of the material oscillation; light passing through is diffracted at this grid, whereby the interaction of the light photons with the oscillation modes of the acousto-optical modulator characterizing phonons shifts the frequency of the light diffracted at the density grid by the excitation frequency of the acousto-optical modulator. This results in a slight shifting of the laser modes over time. This is only indicated for a single laser mode from the 1 ^(st) to the 2 ^(nd) image and from the 2 ^(nd) to the 3rd image for variable times, where it is to be recognized that the frequency of a mode changes with time; this however applies for all modes that begin oscillating in the resonator. In the process it goes without saying that, depending on how far above the amplification 1 the amplification profile runs, the intensities of the individual oscillating modes are variable and that the mode intensity changes with the frequency.

[0035]FIG. 2b shows the trend of the variable modes of the resulting frequency comb over time. It is to be recognized that the frequencies change over time for all modes in the same manner, thus possessing the same pitch when plotted against the time.

[0036] The diagram of FIG. 2b implies that light that is emitted at different times will possess different frequencies. If light beams now flow in at an area which are irradiated at variably long optical paths, that is, were also emitted at different times from the light beam generating medium 2, there must be a frequency difference between the two. This frequency difference is represented in FIG. 2c for differing runtime differences and different modes in the resonator. It can be detected as a beat frequency on a CMOS element.

[0037] The frequency shift between object light beam and reference light beam is first dependent only on the runtime difference, provided a corresponding linearity of the acousto-optical modulator is assumed and the acousto-optical modulation frequency is fixed. The same dependency results for all modes. (The beat parts originating from the individual modes add up accordingly.)

[0038] The frequency shift is further dependent on which frequency the acousto-optical modulator is excited. If the excitation frequency of the acousto-optical modulator is changed, the pitch of the curve changes and the distance of the single “teeth”, that is of those levels for which a given optical path length difference results in a null frequency shift again.

[0039] Against this background the arrangement of FIG. 1 is used in the following way:

[0040] First an object 10 is arranged in the field of vision of the partitioned part of the output light beam 2 a in such a way that it is illuminated. Then an optical projected image of the object is taken with the image receiver 12 and specific places whose penetrations are to be specified are selected, for example places A and B. The selection of these places can occur under consideration of the optical projected image using the input medium 7 c. The elements (i_(I), j_(I)) allocated to places A and B on the light receiver 5 are selected at the selection unit 6 for signal evaluation. This results in a signal being given to the demodulation unit 7 a by the selected CMOS elements (i_(I), j_(I)). With element i_(I), j_(I), a single beam of the object light beam 4 is superimposed with a single beam of the reference light beam 3; here beam means “a small area of an expanded beam”.

[0041] In the demodulation unit 7 a the beat frequency Δν is determined for the array element i_(I), j_(I), and a corresponding signal is fed to the central data processing unit. The central data processing unit 7 b now changes the excitation frequency f_(a) of the acousto-optical modulator successively step by step in aliquant steps and determines the resulting beat frequencies on array element i, j. From the total signals gained thereby it is then determined which multiple of a frequency shift is actually present and the corresponding path length difference of the reference and object light beams is determined for this array element i_(I), j_(I).

[0042] Then the actual coordinates (x, y, z) of object 10 can be inferred using the geometric method from the path length difference and the position. By selecting suitable points A, B, . . . the object can be measured at characteristically important places. The measuring can take place very rapidly, so that more than 30, for example currently up to about 2,000 points can easily be created in real time without greater switching expenditure.

[0043] With a correspondingly high modulation frequency precisions in the acousto-optical modulator in the micrometer range or submicrometer range can easily be achieved, which with the high time resolutions makes measurements possible on rapidly moved shafts, tool parts, loudspeaker diaphragms etc. In the process the simultaneous recording of an optical images gives information for a user that is particularly easy to evaluate.

[0044] It is to be pointed out that both ring resonators and also linear resonators can be used as resonators for the FSF laser. It is further to be pointed out that in place of CMOS element fields for the detection or the transfer of selected beams of different, sufficiently fast light receivers and/or detector fields can also be used as available in the state of the art. 

1. Method for object detection, characterized by the fact that temporally variable reference and object light beams are generated, the beams are superimposed at a light receiver and detected beam by beam and the penetration object is determined by selected beams in response to the temporal variability of the superimposed beams.
 2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the light beams are generated with a comb-like frequency structure.
 3. Method according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that the frequency comb is tuned.
 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the temporal variability of the reference and object light beams occurs by means of the arrangement of a light amplifier in a resonator with temporally variable optical length.
 5. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that successively more tuning frequencies are used.
 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that an acousto-optical modulator is used to generate a temporal variability, in particular an acousto-optical modulator installed in a resonator, excited with high frequency.
 7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that a multitude of detection elements are provided in the superimposed beams, and the object penetration is only determined for a selection of detection elements.
 8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the selection of the detection elements is performed using an optical projected image of the object.
 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the object light beam is also detected with an imaging detector.
 10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that an imaging detector different from the light receiver is used.
 11. Device with a medium for generating temporally variable reference and object light beams, with a receiver with a multitude of detection elements for beam by beam detection of object and reference light beams and an evaluation unit for evaluating the signature resulting from the superimposition of the temporally variable object and reference beams.
 12. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the beam generating medium includes an optical resonator, a light amplifier unit and a modulator.
 13. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the modulator is an acousto-optical modulator.
 14. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the acousto-optical modulator is connected to a frequency generator with a frequency between 0.1 MHz and 500 MHz, in particular around 100 MHz.
 15. Device according to one of claims 12 through 14, characterized by the fact that a selection unit is provided for selection of light receiver-detection elements to be read out or evaluated.
 16. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that an imaging sensor field is provided.
 17. Device according to one of claims 11 through 16, characterized by the fact that the imaging sensor field is different from the light receiver.
 18. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the imaging sensor field and the light receiver have different spectral sensitivities.
 19. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the imaging sensor field is not sensitive to the wavelengths of the beam generating medium.
 20. Device according to one of claims 1 through 19, characterized by the fact that an FSF (Frequency-Shifted-Feedback) laser is used as the beam generating medium. 